Moscow was declared persona non grata 23 a British diplomat. They must leave Russia within weeks, said Russian Ministry of foreign Affairs.

In addition, given the disparity in the consular relations between Russia withdraws consent to the opening of the British Consulate General in St. Petersburg. Also stops the activity of the British Council in connection with the unresolved status.

The Russian foreign Ministry warned London that if his part will be followed by other actions by an unfriendly character toward Russia, that Moscow reserves the right to make other responses.

Response to «political rudeness»

Measures that have been taken by Russia, turned out to be tougher action than the UK. According to first Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on international Affairs Vladimir dzhabarov, Moscow took this step because of «political rudeness» of London.

«We are talking about the answer not in the usual expulsion of diplomats, and that on the empty spot in the UK has transformed Russia into the country, distribute and use chemical weapons. Such political rudeness can not be tolerated,» said the Senator.

Another Senator, a veteran of the RAF Igor Morozov believes that Britain will not stop and will inflate the provocation and then — up to a global conflict. He did not rule out that there will be a boycott of the world Cup and what steps London can relate to the Russian Ambassador.

In the state Duma consider the Russian response is completely adequate. This opinion was expressed to RIA Novosti the head of the Duma Committee on international Affairs Leonid Slutsky.

«The Kingdom is fully here in the Wake of the US where under false pretenses and without any evidence was deployed essentially diplomatic confrontation. We did not start this, but we have to respond with the appropriate measures», — he said.

The MP also said that «if the British government continues this way, Russia reserves the right to other retaliatory action.»

The aggravation of relations

Relations between Russia and Britain deteriorated on the background of the poisoning of former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal. The fourth of March Skripal and his daughter Julia was found unconscious in the centre of the British city of Salisbury. So far, they are in a coma, suffered a police officer. According to the British side, they were poisoned nervously-paralytic substance «Beginner», supposedly produced in Russia.

Sergei Skripal, sentenced for treason in Russia, was granted asylum in the UK in 2010, after it among the other spies were exchanged for Russian citizens detained in the United States.

British Prime Minister Theresa may, on 14 March accused Russia of involvement in the poisoning and said that London sends 23 Russian diplomat, cuts off all high-level contacts, and recalls the invitation of the Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit London.

Moscow’s Reaction

Russia has perceived actions of the British government as hostile and unacceptable and categorically rejected any involvement in the poisoning. The Russian foreign Ministry called the actions of London «information and political show,» and the allegations «absolutely crazy.»

While in Moscow said that London has not provided any information on poisoning Skripal and his daughter, although the Russian Embassy sent to the foreign office a note which called for a joint investigation of the incident in Salisbury and requested access to the case materials. In addition, Russia is fully prepared to cooperate with Britain if London will comply with all required procedures under the Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons. However, as stated Sergei Lavrov, Britain from such cooperation is refused.

On the eve of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on the attempt on the Russian citizen Yulia Skripal. It gives legal grounds to send overseas requests for information, to conduct investigative actions, including interrogations and searches.

With regard to chemical weapons, Russia destroyed the entire Arsenal inherited from the Soviet Union. The last one was scrapped in October last year.